Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) through its Medicaid Communication Access Service is hosting a series of three workshops designed to support interpreters who work in health care settings and strengthen their confidence in these environments.

This second workshop features a panel of Deaf individuals who will share their experiences accessing care in medical settings. Panelists will respond to questions submitted in advance by registrants and discuss challenges, communication needs, and perspectives related to working with interpreters in health care environments.

The goal of this workshop is to help interpreters gain a deeper understanding of the Deaf patient perspective and consider how interpreting practices can support clearer communication and more equitable access to health care.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe common experiences Deaf individuals encounter when accessing health care services in medical settings.

• Explain key communication barriers and facilitators that impact Deaf patients’ experiences during medical appointments.

• Identify perspectives shared by Deaf individuals regarding the role and effectiveness of interpreters in health care environments.

• Discuss strategies interpreters can use to support clearer communication and patient-centered interactions in medical settings.

• Reflect on personal interpreting practices and identify at least one way to incorporate insights from Deaf perspectives into future health care interpreting work.

Moderator: Marilyn Edwards; Panelists: Ruben Leon, Anita Presley

Ruben Leon: A proud Boricua Deaf male. A father of three sons. Ruben is currently the Residential Life Coordinator at Eastern NC School for the Deaf. He was formerly a Regional Center Manager and Deaf Services Specialist with the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Ruben had participated in an extensive Pro Tactile training in Oregon. Ruben had interpreted several DB cruises, Deafblind camps, and conferences since 2013. He is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys playing cornhole tournaments, hiking, and visiting beaches.

Anita Presley: I was born deaf and I attended several schools in NC. I attended mainstream programs in Durham and Hillsborough, NC. I then attended Deaf schools in Wilson, Raleigh, Greensboro and graduated from high school in Morganton in 1985. I have had several experiences in health care with interpreters during my life.

Facilitator - Marilyn Edwards

Marilyn L. Edwards is currently employed at the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Divison of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH), Asheville Regional Center serving as a Hard of Hearing Specialist where she consults, provides support, advocacy and offers resources on all aspects of hearing loss.

In addition, Marilyn servers as a Co-Chair of DSDHH Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Council providing training and education about culture awareness and communication equity in the workplace.

Marilyn is passionate about teaching and tutoring students in American Sign Language (ASL) and has over 25+ years experience. Marilyn is a Deaf Interpreter (DI) and is actively pursuing National Certification.